Welsh semi-professional international goalkeeper Shaun Pearson is ready to help Barrow AFC in their quest for an FA Cup third-round tie with Cardiff City.

Welsh semi-professional international goalkeeper Shaun Pearson is ready to help Barrow AFC in their quest for an FA Cup third-round tie with Cardiff City.

First-choice keeper Danny Hurst suffered a dislocated finger in Barrow’s 2-0 Conference defeat to Hereford and Pearson is likely to start in tonight’s FA Cup second round replay with Macclesfield Town – with City awaiting the winners next month.

Bangor-born Pearson, 22, joined Barrow from Cymru Alliance club Llangefni Town before the start of the 2011-12 season and will play if Hurst is ruled out.

Barrow don’t have any other senior goalkeepers and assistant manager Ashley Hoskin said: “Danny dislocated a finger in at least two places.

“He came for a cross and the ball has hit him on the end of the finger.

“It popped out straight away, he went to hospital and it doesn’t look too good.

“It may mean we play without a goalkeeper on the bench. Last time that happened Hursty was knocked out and we had to put right-back Matthew Flynn in goal.

“I’m not sure how we can get round that if Danny is ruled out.

“We understand what is at stake because if we can get through – and Macclesfield in itself is a tough match – our prize would be a home draw against Cardiff, one of the biggest clubs in Championship football.

“That’s a great incentive for everyone.”

Barrow chairman Brian Keen said: “A potential home tie against Cardiff is a fantastic incentive, it would set up the biggest game at Holker Street for many years.”

Macclesfield, ninth in the Conference table after a 1-1 draw at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, were far from happy when the original tie against Barrow was called off.

“We’d just turned up, went straight out onto the pitch and the referee was coming back in,” said Macclesfield defender Kieran Charnock.

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